Srinagar, June 23: On the “assurance” of chief minister Omar Abdullah to address their problems, the cross-LoC traders today announced to call off their 4-week long strike on Thursday.    
 “We have decided to resume trade from next week,” a local news gathering agency quoted Hilal Ahmad Turki, General-Secretary of Salamabad-Chakoti Traders Union as saying.
 He said that the decision was taken after Chief Minister assured them to address issues within the jurisdiction of State on fast track.
 Pertinently, the Chief Minister yesterday said the state government would consider the concession on VAT to the items to be exported by the traders from this part of the LoC to the other.
 In order to allow VAT concession to the LoC traders, chief minister had said that an amendment to a Sub-Clause of VAT Act was required. He said that the Government would move ahead in this direction on “fast track.”
 On May 28 last, the traders had announced two weeks’ strike to press for their demands which included besides revocation of VAT, overall change in list of approved items as part of the Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs) between India and Pakistan, banking and communication facilities.
 While there was no headway after the two weeks, the traders had announced to go indefinite strike.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 23 Jun 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 IST